Her role as the colorful nanny in the famous 90s sitcom, “A Nanny from Hell”, made her known all over the world. President of the union of American actors, SAG-AFTRA, Fran Drescher is today their powerful spokesperson.
Since July 13, 2023, the day of the announcement of the historic strike of American actors united in the SAG-AFTRA union (the Screen Actors Guild), the American actress Fran Drescher has embodied an already pioneering social struggle. By joining the screenwriters’ strike, which has not been seen since 1960, the actors are taking part in the first major social movement, one of the main demands of which is linked to the changes induced by artificial intelligence in the labor market. Technology, which has been making its way into all sectors for several months in the cultural industry, is now fueling – rightly according to several experts – many concerns. In Hollywood, actors fear, for example, that the studios will use their image ad infinitum, without consulting them, paying them only for its capture.
“We are all at risk of being replaced by machines”
“If we don’t step up now, we’re all in trouble. We all risk being replaced by machines and big corporations that care more about Wall Street than you and your family,” insisted Fran Drescher during a remarked speech. A speech during which she pinned the greed of the studios, grouped within the‘Alliance of Film and Television Producers (AMPTP). Companies reluctant, according to Fran Drescher, to make evolving actor contracts as the game has changed for decades with video on demand.
The problem was clearly posed by the actress, known for her role as an eccentric nanny with a loud talk and inimitable timbre of voice in the hit sitcom A nanny from hell (The Nanny), broadcast from 1993 in the United States and two years later in France. “We cannot change the economic model (video on demand) and don’t expect contracts to change too. We are not going to continue to make changes at the margin to a contract that no longer matches what is happening now with this economic model that has been imposed on us.” launched Fran Drescher vehemently. “We demand respect and to be honored for our contribution. You share the wealth because you cannot exist without us.”
Share new profits
The rebroadcasting of films and series generates residual income for actors. Streaming platforms distribute very little or none, even when productions meet with some success. As compensation, SAG-AFTRA proposed that a small percentage of subscriptions be paid to the actors. A proposal on which the producers did not want to negotiate. Residual incomes are however decisive for the members of SAG-AFTA because they allow, for example, the vast majority to be able to benefit from health coverage managed by the union.
In a tweet*American actress Jessica Chastain pointed out that “87% of SAG-AFTRA members earn less than $26,000 (23,000 euro) per year. They are not entitled to health insurance.” Many of the big stars, who have been picketing in front of studio headquarters for several days, do not fail to point out that the demands made are crucial for the basic contracts, those of most members of SAG-AFTRA. Especially since at present, their salaries do not even take inflation into account while they are being reduced more and more with the streaming platforms. The episodes of the series being, among other things, shortened in the offers of video on demand.
In an interview granted to the American channel MSNBC, Fran Drescher indicated that for The nanny from hell, a series she originated and produced, at least 22 episodes were shot per season. The sitcom, which has known 6, tells the story of a young woman, Fran Fine, hired by chance to be the governess of Maxwell Sheffield’s three children (Charles Shaughnessy), a widowed musical producer. This critical mass of episodes allowed all actors to earn income over a long period. The series turns thirty this year and continues to air.
Tailor-made role
The famous credits of The nanny from hell has already been hijacked to report on the showdown in which SAG-AFTRA and its president Fran Drescher are engaged, who also denounces the astronomical income of studio leaders. “I am shocked by the way the people we have worked with treat us… [Elles] plead poverty”. The studios claiming to lose “money left and right as they give their CEOs hundreds of millions of dollars. It’s disgusting. Shame on them”, she asserted. “They’re on the wrong side of history right now. We stand together. In unprecedented unity,” added the boss of SAG-AFTRA who does not fail to recall that this is the first time in the history of the union that a strike has been voted by such a large majority.
Fran Drescher was elected to head SAG-AFTRA on September 2, 2021 after a tight ballot that saw her rival, Joely Fischer inherit the position of Secretary Treasurer. In an America ravaged by the pandemic and whose film industry is suffering, she pleads for her election to “a united front” in a union notorious for its internal divisions. She had no union experience when she entered the race for the presidency of SAG-AFTRA but had solid assets, she assures Deadline to explain his candidacy.
The pugnacity of a “cancer survivor”
“Gthrough my personal journey as a cancer survivor (of the womb), I learned to turn my pain into a goal. I managed to get a healthcare bill passed in Washington by unanimous consent. I have been cited twice in the Congressional Record for my efforts and accomplishments.” she indicated to Deadline. The disease forced Fran Drescher to undergo a hysterectomy, twenty years ago, and she is committed to awareness and prevention through her Cancer Schmancer foundation, from the name of the book on his fight against the disease published in 2002. “I was also named one of Washington’s top five celebrity lobbyists by the Washingtonianalongside Bono, Jolie, Pitt and Clooney”, added the actress. In addition, the administrations of Presidents Bush (Jr.) and Obama have made her one of their ambassadors for health in the world.
The battle that Fran Drescher leads today was predictable even if the strike was never a desired option. “The future of SAG-AFTRA is through streaming. Members deserve stronger contracts, more residual income, better protections and an end to unfair exclusivity. I support ‘Unite for Strength’, Fran, Anthony and their entire team,” wrote American actor and producer Tom Hanks who supported his candidacy at the time, reports Deadline.
Today, Fran Drescher finds herself in the same situation as Ronald Reagan, actor who became Republican President of the United States (elected in 1980 and re-elected in 1984), more than forty years ago: leading a union on strike. And the movement is already challenging politicians. Fran Drescher recently discussed the actors’ strike with independent senator Bernie Sanders, who entered the presidential race in 2020, before stepping down and supporting the candidacy of Democrat Joe Biden.
In one of the episodes ofA nanny from hell, Fran – her fictional double – valiantly resisted her employer who wanted to force her to cross a picket line to access a restaurant. A gesture immortalized by the press in fiction and which then makes the nanny the darling of the media.
Decades later, but this time in the real world, Fran Drescher finds herself at the heart of a strike and negotiations whose outcome is decisive for the American and global audiovisual industry. Especially since this social movement foreshadows the social struggles to come in the face of capitalistic excesses linked to technological developments. “On behalf of all workers, everywhere”, claims Fran Drescher loud and clear.
*Most of the links in this article are in English.